Qualifying locations for fixed wireless services

ABSTRACT

A device receives an address from a computer terminal; determines a location associated with the address; and determines a current signal quality at the location by referencing a file that represents an area that includes the location. The device further determines whether the location qualifies for a fixed wireless service based on the current signal quality. The device also transmits information to the computer terminal. The information indicates whether the location qualifies for the fixed wireless service.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from and is a continuation-in-part(CIP) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/854,585, filed Aug. 11,2010, entitled “CUSTOMER PREMISES EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION FOR BUNDLEDSERVICES IN A FIXED BROADBAND WIRELESS INSTALLATION,” the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Bundled media services (e.g., combination packages of television,telephone, and broadband Internet services) have been successfullyoffered to households with wired connections to service providernetworks. Households in areas without such wired connections (e.g.,customers in regions that cannot be reached via conventional wiredcommunication media, such as optical cables, copper cables, and/or otherfixed wire-based technologies) may rely on fixed wireless services forsome of these services (e.g., broadband access). However, previousgenerations of fixed wireless services have generally been unsuccessful.

As wireless network data rates improve using fourth generation (4G)technologies, such as Long-Term Evolution (LTE), network data rates havebecome more attractive for fixed wireless networks. However, providersof fixed wireless services are unable to accurately determine whichlocations qualify (i.e., are able) to receive fixed wireless serviceswithout, first, sending technicians to and/or installing or usingcustomer premises equipment (CPE) at the locations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example environment in which systems and/ormethods described herein may be implemented;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of example components of a combined gateway of thecustomer premises network depicted in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A-3C are diagrams of example configurations of a CPE installationassistant with an outdoor broadband unit of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of example components of one or more devices ofFIGS. 1-3C;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of example functional components of a managementdevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6A illustrates an example representation of a portion of ageographic file for current signal quality;

FIG. 6B illustrates an example representation of a portion of ageographic file for predicted future signal quality;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an example process for generating geographicalfiles according to an implementation described herein; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an example process for qualifying a locationaccording to an implementation described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings.The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the sameor similar elements.

An implementation, described herein, may allow remote qualifying oflocations for customer premises equipment (CPE), prior to installing theCPE. In one example, a device may receive information associated withcell units (e.g., eNodeBs). The device may, based on the information,generate geographic file(s) that specify current signal quality (e.g.,data rates) at different locations, of a customer premises, representedby the geographic file(s). The device may also generate geographicfile(s) that specify predictions of future signal quality at thedifferent locations represented by the geographic file(s).

Thereafter, the device may receive an address associated with a customerlocated at a customer premises. Herein, a customer may refer to anyperson that is interested in subscribing to fixed wireless services. Thedevice may determine a current signal quality and/or a predicted futuresignal quality for a location associated with the address by referencingthe geographic files. The device may determine whether the locationqualifies for fixed wireless services based on the current signalquality and/or the future signal quality. When the location qualifiesfor the fixed wireless services, the device may further select a tier ofservice that is available at the location associated with the address.The device may transmit information associated with the selected tier ofservice to the customer or to a point of sale (POS) of a provider of thefixed wireless services.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example environment 100 in which systemsand/or methods described herein may be implemented. As illustrated,environment 100 may include a customer premises 110; an evolved packetcore (EPC) network 120, a satellite 130; a customer premises network140; a combined gateway 150; eNodeBs (eNB) 160-1 and 160-2 (referred toherein collectively as “eNodeBs 160” or generically as “eNodeB 160”); anetwork 170; a management device 180; and a computer terminal 190. Onecustomer premises 110, one EPC network 120, one satellite 130, onecustomer premises network 140, one combined gateway 150, two eNodeBs160, one network 170, one management device 180, and one computerterminal 190 have been illustrated in FIG. 1 for simplicity. Inpractice, there may be more customer premises 110, EPC networks 120,satellites 130, customer premises networks 140, combined gateways 150,eNodeBs 160, networks 170, management devices 180, and/or computerterminals 190.

Customer premises 110 may include a residence or business. Inimplementations herein, customer premises 110 may generally rely onwireless communications for television (TV) and broadband services(e.g., instead of conventional wired communication, such as opticalcables, copper cables, and/or other fixed wire-based technologies).However, broadband service can be offered independent of televisionservice.

EPC network 120 may include a core network architecture of the 3GPP LTEwireless communication standard. In one example, EPC network 120 mayinclude an all-IP packet-switched core network that supports high-speedwireless and wireline broadband access technologies. In another example,EPC network 120 may provide packet-switched voice services (e.g., whichare traditionally circuit-switched) using an Internet ProtocolMultimedia Subsystem (IMS) network (not shown).

Satellite 130 may provide multimedia content from, for example, a directbroadcast satellite (DBS) service provider (not shown). Satellite 130may provide a downlink signal over a designated satellite TV bandfrequency, typically in the range of a Ku band (e.g., 10.95-14.5 GHz), aKa band (e.g., 26.5-40 GHz), or 950 MHz to 2150 MHz. The downlink signalmay be received using a satellite antenna/receiver system at a customerpremises to present satellite TV content to a user.

Customer premises network 140 may include one or more devices connectedto each other, eNodeB 160, and/or satellite 130. Devices in customerpremise network 140 may include, for example, set-top boxes (STBs),televisions, computers, voice-over-Internet-protocol (VoIP) devices, andhome networking equipment (e.g., routers, cables, splitters, localgateways, etc.). In the example shown in FIG. 1, customer premisesnetwork 140 is connected to eNodeB 160 through a two-way wirelessconnection (e.g., using a LTE band frequency) and connected to satellite130 through a one-way (e.g., downlink) wireless connection (e.g., usinga satellite TV band frequency). Customer premises network 140 maycombine LTE functionality with satellite TV service. Customer premisesnetwork 140 may use combined gateway 150 to bring both broadband (overLTE) service (e.g., via eNodeB 160) and satellite TV service (e.g., viasatellite 130) into customer premises 110 over a single coaxial line.

Combined gateway 150 may include devices that provide an interface fromEPC network 120 to devices in customer premises network 140 and/or fromsatellite 130 to devices in customer premises network 140. In oneimplementation, combined gateway 150 may include an outdoor broadbandunit and a satellite antenna. The outdoor broadband unit may utilize apre-existing or new satellite TV installation in a way that bothbroadband (over LTE) service and satellite TV are brought indoors (e.g.,inside customer premises 110) over a single coaxial cable. Whileexamples have been given above in the context of a satellite TV service,the implementations described herein are not limited to satellite TVservice. For example, customer premises network 140 may combine LTEfunctionality with one or more other types of services.

eNodeB 160 may include a LTE base station that may cover a particulargeographic area serviced by EPC network 120. Typically, the geographicarea covered by one eNodeB 160 (e.g., eNodeB 160-1) may overlap with ageographic area covered by another eNodeB 160 (e.g., eNodeB 160-2).eNodeB 160 may include one or more devices that receive information,such as voice, video, text, and/or other data, from other networkdevices and/or that transmit the information to customer premisesnetwork 140 via an air interface. eNodeB 160 may also include one ormore devices that receive information from devices in customer premisesnetwork 140 via an air interface and/or that transmit the information toother network devices.

Network 170 may include one or more wired and/or wireless networks. Forexample, network 170 may include a direct connection, a cellularnetwork, a public land mobile network (PLMN), a local area network(LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), anintranet, the Internet, an IP-based network, a fiber optic-based network(e.g., a FiOS network), and/or a combination of these or other types ofnetworks. In one example, network 170 may include EPC network 120.

Management device 180 may include one or more server devices, or othertypes of computation or communication devices, that gather, process,search, and/or provide information in a manner described herein. In oneimplementation, management device 180 may receive information abouteNodeBs 160 and/or about other types of cell units. Management device180 may generate, based on the information, geographic file(s) thatspecify current signal quality and/or predicted future signal quality atdifferent locations of customer premises 110. Management device 180 mayreference the geographic files to determine whether a particularlocation, associated with a customer, qualifies to receive fixedwireless services based on a current signal quality and/or a predictedfuture signal quality at the particular location. Management device 180may transmit information, associated with whether the particularlocation is qualified, to computer terminal 190, via network 170.

Computer terminal 190 may include any computation or communicationdevice, such as a communication device that is capable of communicatingwith management device 180 via network 170. In one implementation,computer terminal 190 may take the form of any computer, including a webservice terminal, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a handheldcomputer, a smart phone, a mobile telephone device, a personal mediaplayer, etc. Computer terminal 190 may be operated by a customer who isinterested in installing a CPE at a particular location, of customerpremises 110, to receive fixed wireless media services at the particularlocation; an employee, of a service provider who provides the fixedwireless media services, who is assisting the customer; etc.

Computer terminal 190 may receive an address of the particular locationas an input. Computer terminal 190 may transmit the address tomanagement device 180. In response, computer terminal 190 may receiveinformation that indicates whether the particular location is qualifiedto receive the fixed wireless media services at the particular location.The information may also include information about the current and/orpredicted future quality of signals (e.g., data rates) that the customermay expect at the particular location and/or other informationassociated with a tier of service selected for the particular location(e.g., pricing information, types/packages of fixed wireless servicesthat are available at the location, etc.). Computer terminal 190 maydisplay the information received from management device 180.

While implementations are described herein primarily in the context ofbroadband services via LTE, other wireless standards may be used. Forexample, components conforming to LTE standards described herein may bereplaced by components conforming to other network standards (e.g.,Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), wideband code divisionmultiple access (WCDMA), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS), Code Division Multiple Access 2000(CDMA2000), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Worldwide Interoperabilityfor Microwave Access (WiMax), etc.). Furthermore, eNodeB may refer toany other type of cell unit (e.g., a macro base station).

Although FIG. 1 shows example components of environment 100, in otherimplementations, environment 100 may contain fewer components, differentcomponents, differently arranged components, and/or additionalcomponents than those depicted in FIG. 1. Alternatively, oradditionally, one or more components of environment 100 may perform oneor more other tasks described as being performed by one or more othercomponents of environment 100.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of example components of combined gateway 150. Asillustrated, combined gateway 150 may include an outdoor broadband unit200 that includes a radio frequency (RF) antenna 210, a LTE module 220,a broadband home router (BHR) 230, a radome 240, an extension arm 250,and a satellite antenna 260.

Generally, outdoor broadband unit 200 may include one or more dataprocessing and/or data transfer devices, such as a gateway, a router, amodem, a switch, a firewall, a network interface card (NIC), a hub, abridge, a proxy server, an optical add-drop multiplexer (OADM), or someother type of device that processes and/or transfers data. In oneexample, outdoor broadband unit 200 may include a wireless gateway thatprovides a convergence point between wireless protocols (e.g.,associated with eNodeB 160) and IP protocols (e.g., associated withdevices in customer premises network 140). Outdoor broadband unit 200may be physically deployed with satellite antenna 260 (e.g., on a roofor a side wall of a house associated with customer premises 110). Forexample, outdoor broadband unit 200 may utilize a pre-existing or newsatellite TV installation in a way that both broadband (over LTE)service and satellite TV are brought indoors (e.g., inside customerpremises 110) over a single coaxial cable 204. Components of outdoorbroadband unit 200 may also be powered using coaxial cable 204.

RF antenna 210 may include an antenna to transmit and/or receive RFsignals over the air. RF antenna 210 may, for example, receive RFsignals from LTE module 220/BHR 230 and transmit the RF signals over theair. Also, RF antenna 210 may, for example, receive RF signals over theair and provide them to LTE module 220/BHR 230. In one implementation,for example, LTE module 220/BHR 230 may communicate with a base station(e.g., eNodeB 160) connected to a network (e.g., EPC network 120) tosend and/or receive signals from devices in customer premises network140. In implementations herein, RF antenna 210 may be enclosed by radome240, integrated with radome 240, or external to radome 240. While one RFantenna 210 is shown in FIG. 2, outdoor broadband unit 200 may includemore than one antenna in other implementations.

LTE module 220 may include hardware or a combination of hardware andsoftware having communication capability via an air interface. Forexample, LTE module 220 may receive broadband signals and/or VoIPsignals from eNodeB 160 (e.g., via RF antenna 210) and transmitbroadband signals and/or VoIP signals to eNodeB 160 (e.g., via RFantenna 210).

BHR 230 may include a device for buffering and forwarding data packetstoward destinations. For example, BHR 230 may receive data packets fromeNodeB 160 (e.g., via LTE module 220) and forward the data packetstoward customer premises network 140. In addition, BHR 230 may receivedata packets from customer premises network 140 and forward the datapackets toward recipient devices via EPC network 120. BHR 230 mayinclude a bridge device to receive signals from LTE module 220 via awired USB connection and convert the signals to an Ethernet over coaxsignal. The Ethernet over coax signal may be assigned a logical channel(e.g., according to SWiM guidelines) and may be combined with coaxialinput from satellite antenna 260.

Radome 240 (shown with cut-away view to reveal LTE module 220 and BHR230) may provide a weatherproof enclosure to protect RF antenna 210, LTEmodule 220, BHR 230, and/or other components of outdoor broadband unit200. Generally, radome 240 may include any RF transparent structure thatprotects components in an outdoor environment.

Extension arm 250 may provide a structure to support outdoor broadbandunit 200 (e.g., via a mounting bracket). In one implementation,extension arm 250 may be connected to a pole supporting satelliteantenna 260. In other implementations, extension arm 250 may beconnected to another structure. Extension arm 250 may be configured tobe connected (e.g., to a pole supporting satellite antenna 260) in amanner that allows extension arm to be secured in any one direction (360degrees of rotation) perpendicular to the axis of the supporting pole.

Satellite antenna 260 may provide an interface for television servicebroadcast from satellites. In one implementation, satellite antenna 260may provide an entry point for a network (e.g., customer premisesnetwork 140) that conforms to standards of the Multimedia over CoaxAlliance (MoCA). Generally, MoCA-compliant devices may be used toimplement a home network on existing coaxial cable, using, for example,orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation thatdivides data into several parallel data streams or logical channels.

Although FIG. 2 shows example components of combined gateway 150, inother implementations, combined gateway 150 may contain fewercomponents, different components, differently arranged components,and/or additional components than depicted in FIG. 2. Alternatively, oradditionally, one or more components of combined gateway 150 may performone or more other tasks described as being performed by one or moreother components of combined gateway 150.

FIGS. 3A-3C are diagrams of example configurations of a CPE installationassistant 300 for use with outdoor broadband unit 200. Referringcollectively to FIGS. 3A-3C, CPE installation assistant 300 may includea device executing software to enable selection of an installationlocation for outdoor broadband unit 200 and/or to provide installationguidance for a technician (e.g., a person installing outdoor broadbandunit 200). In an implementation, CPE installation assistant 300 maystore and/or retrieve carrier network information (e.g., locations ofeNodeBs 160), terrain maps for areas surrounding customer premises 110,real-time location information (e.g., from a GPS locator), RF signaldata (e.g., from outdoor broadband unit 200). CPE installation assistant300 may analyze the stored/retrieved information to select aninstallation location (e.g., for outdoor broadband unit 200 on customerpremises 110) with the highest available RF signal strength, uplinkthroughput and/or downlink throughput. CPE installation assistant 300may also be used to ensure outdoor broadband unit 200 is installed at anoptimal orientation in the selected location.

Generally, CPE installation assistant 300 may be a mobile device thatmay be operatively connected to outdoor broadband unit 200 during, forexample, pre-installation signal evaluations. As described furtherherein, a technician may move around customer premises 110 with CPEinstallation assistant 300 and outdoor broadband unit 200 to collectsignal strength data. In one implementation, CPE installation assistant300 may include a power source (e.g., a battery) to power both CPEinstallation assistant 300 and outdoor broadband unit 200 during thisand other pre-installation procedures.

Referring to FIG. 3A, in one implementation, CPE installation assistant300 may include a mobile computation and/or communication device, suchas a laptop computer (e.g., with a wireless air card), a personalcommunications system (PCS) terminal (e.g., that may combine a cellularradiotelephone with data processing and data communicationscapabilities), a personal digital assistant (PDA) (e.g., that caninclude a radiotelephone, a pager, Internet/intranet access, etc.), awireless device, a smart phone, a tablet computer, or a GPS device. Inone implementation, the CPE installation assistant 300 of FIG. 3A mayinclude an interface capable of connecting to outdoor broadband unit 200via a universal serial bus (USB) connection or some other type ofconnection. In another implementation, CPE installation assistant 300may connect to outdoor broadband unit 200 via a short-range wirelessprotocols, such as IEEE 802.15 (e.g., Bluetooth).

Referring to FIG. 3B, in another implementation, CPE installationassistant 300 may include a customized mobile computation and/orcommunication device that may include a dedicated user interface (e.g.,dedicated input keys, soft keys, etc.) relating to installation ofoutdoor broadband unit 200. In the implementation of FIG. 3B, CPEinstallation assistant 300 may also include communication capabilitiesto retrieve RF signal data from outdoor broadband unit 200. Similar tothe implementation of FIG. 3A, the CPE installation assistant 300 ofFIG. 3B may include an interface capable of connecting to outdoorbroadband unit 200 via a wired (e.g., USB) or wireless (e.g., Bluetooth)connection.

Referring to FIG. 3C, in a further implementation, CPE installationassistant 300 may include an integrated computation and/or communicationdevice that may attach directly to a communication port and/or otherwiseconnect to outdoor broadband unit 200. In one implementation, the CPEinstallation assistant 300 of FIG. 3C may be attached to outdoorbroadband unit 200 to begin a pre-installation procedure and may beremoved prior to a permanent installation of outdoor broadband unit 200.

Although FIGS. 3A-3C show example configurations of CPE installationassistant 300 with outdoor broadband unit 200, in other implementations,CPE installation assistant 300 and outdoor broadband unit 200 mayinclude different configurations than depicted in FIGS. 3A-3C. Forexample, in another implementation, CPE installation assistant 300 maybe a distributed component.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of example components of a device 400 that maycorrespond to one or more of management device 180, computer terminal190, outdoor broadband unit 200, CPE installation assistant 300, and/orcomponents of such devices. As illustrated, device 400 may include a bus410, a processing unit 420, a memory 430, an input device 440, an outputdevice 450, and a communication interface 460.

Bus 410 may permit communication among the components of device 400.Processing unit 420 may include one or more processors ormicroprocessors that interpret and execute instructions. In otherimplementations, processing unit 420 may be implemented as or includeone or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGAs), or the like.

Memory 430 may include a random access memory (RAM) or another type ofdynamic storage device that stores information and instructions forexecution by processing unit 420, a read only memory (ROM) or anothertype of static storage device that stores static information andinstructions for the processing unit 420, and/or some other type ofmagnetic or optical recording medium and its corresponding drive forstoring information and/or instructions.

Input device 440 may include a device that permits an operator to inputinformation to device 400, such as a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a pen,a microphone, one or more biometric mechanisms, and the like. Outputdevice 450 may include a device that outputs information to theoperator, such as a display, a speaker, etc.

Communication interface 460 may include any transceiver-like mechanismthat enables device 400 to communicate with other devices and/orsystems. For example, communication interface 460 may include mechanismsfor communicating with other devices, such as other devices ofenvironment 100 and/or customer premises network 140.

As described herein, device 400 may perform certain operations inresponse to processing unit 420 executing software instructionscontained in a computer-readable medium, such as memory 430. Acomputer-readable medium may be defined as a non-transitory memorydevice. A memory device may include space within a single physicalmemory device or spread across multiple physical memory devices. Thesoftware instructions may be read into memory 430 from anothercomputer-readable medium or from another device via communicationinterface 460. The software instructions contained in memory 430 maycause processing unit 420 to perform processes described herein.Alternatively, hardwired circuitry may be used in place of or incombination with software instructions to implement processes describedherein. Thus, implementations described herein are not limited to anyspecific combination of hardware circuitry and software.

Although FIG. 4 shows example components of device 400, in otherimplementations, device 400 may contain fewer components, differentcomponents, differently arranged components, or additional componentsthan depicted in FIG. 4. Alternatively, or additionally, one or morecomponents of device 400 may perform one or more other tasks describedas being performed by one or more other components of device 400.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of example functional components of managementdevice 180. In one example, the functional components described inconnection with FIG. 5 may be implemented by one or more of thecomponents of device 400 depicted in FIG. 4. As shown, management device180 may include a geographic file generator component 510 and aqualification component 520. In another implementation, computerterminal 190 may perform one or more functions described as beingperformed by qualification component 520.

Geographic file generator component 510 may include hardware or acombination of hardware and software that may generate geographic files.In one implementation, geographic file generator component 510 mayinclude a GPS unit that may employ temporal triangulation to determinelocations of eNodeBs 160. In another implementation, geographic filegenerator component 510 may collect and/or retrieve other informationabout each eNodeB 160. For example, the other information may includeone or more of a type of an antenna of eNodeB 160, a height of theantenna, a transmitter power (Radio Frequency (RF) signal readings) ofeNodeB 160, a line of site of eNodeB 160, terrain characteristicsassociated with a location (e.g., rural, suburban, urban, dense urban,hilly, etc.) of eNodeB 160, a traffic load handled by eNodeB 160, etc.

In yet another implementation, geographic file generator component 510may collect and/or have access to RF parameters associated withlocations/areas surrounding eNodeBs 160 (e.g., geographic file generatorcomponent 510 may collect RF parameters from installed outdoor broadbandunits 200). The RF parameters may include, for example, asignal-to-noise ratio (SNR), a received signal strength indication(RSSI), a reference signal received power (RSRP), a reference signalreceived quality (RSRQ), path loss, and/or other parameters. In stillyet another implementation, geographic file generator component 510 maycollect and/or retrieve interference information associated with thelocations/areas surrounding eNodeBs 160. The interference informationmay include, for example, information about obstructions in the areas(e.g., tall buildings) and undesired signals from other cell units.

Geographic file generator component 510 may generate geographic filesfor current signal quality, based on the aforementioned informationcollected and/or retrieved by geographic file generator component 510,for different geographic areas that include eNodeBs 160. Geographic filegenerator component 510 may also receive data about future conditionsassociated with the geographic areas. The data about future conditionsmay include, for example, information about predicted growth of trafficand plans to install new eNodeBs 160. Geographic file generatorcomponent 510 may generate geographic files for predicted future signalquality, based on the geographic files for current signal quality andthe data about future conditions, for the different geographic areasthat include eNodeBs 160. Geographic file generator component 510 mayperiodically generate/update the geographic files for current signalquality and the geographic files for predicted future signal quality.

Qualification component 520 may include hardware or a combination ofhardware and software that may determine whether a location, associatedwith a consumer, qualifies to receive fixed wireless services via aninstallation of CPE (e.g., including outdoor broadband unit 200 of FIG.2) at the location. In one implementation, qualification component 520may receive an address of the location. Qualification component 520 maydetermine latitude and longitude information for the location based onthe address. Qualification component 520 may reference, based on thelatitude and longitude information, one or more of the geographic filesfor current signal quality to determine a current signal quality at thelocation, and/or one or more of the geographic files for predictedfuture signal quality to determine a predicted future signal quality atthe location.

Furthermore, qualification component 520 may determine whether thelocation qualifies for the fixed wireless media services, via aninstallation of an outdoor broadband unit, at the location based on thecurrent signal quality and/or the future signal quality. In anotherimplementation, qualification component 520 may select a tier of servicefor which the location qualifies based on the current signal qualityand/or the future signal quality. Qualification component 520 maytransmit information associated the qualification of the location and/orthe selected tier of service to computer terminal 190.

Although FIG. 5 shows example functional components of management device180, in other implementations, management device 180 may include fewerfunctional components, different functional components, differentlyarranged functional components, and/or additional functional componentsthan depicted in FIG. 5. Alternatively, or additionally, one or morefunctional components of management device 180 may perform one or moreother tasks described as being performed by one or more other functionalcomponents of management device 180.

FIG. 6A illustrates an example representation 600 of a portion of ageographic file for current signal quality. As described above,management device 180 may generate the geographic file for an area thatincludes eNodeBs 160 and customer premises 110.

Representation 600 may include cells 610-1 through 610-N (referred toherein collectively as “cells 610” or generically as “cell 610”). Cell610 may represent a particular geographic area (e.g., 10,000 squaremeters). Cell 610 may have an assigned value that represents a currentsignal quality in the particular geographic area represented by cell610.

In one example, assume that management device 180 determines that thelocation of customer premises 110 is within a particular arearepresented by cell 610-2. Accordingly, management device 180 maydetermine that the current signal quality at the location of customerpremises 110 is equal to the value assigned to cell 610-2 inrepresentation 600.

FIG. 6B illustrates an example representation 650 of a portion of ageographic file for future signal quality. As described above,management device 180 may generate the geographic file for future signalquality for the same area that includes eNodeBs 160 and customerpremises 110. Management device 180 may generate representation 650based on representation 600 and based on information associated withfuture predictions/plans (e.g., growth in traffic, plans to add new cellunits (e.g., eNodeBs 160) within the same area, etc.) associated withthe same area that is represented by representations 600 and 650.

Representation 650 may include cells 660-1 through 660-N (referred toherein collectively as “cells 660” or generically as “cell 660”). Eachcell 660 may correspond to one of cells 610 that represents the sameparticular geographic area. Cell 660 may have an assigned value thatrepresents a predicted future signal quality in the particulargeographic area represented by cell 660 (e.g., cell 660-2).

In the example describe above in reference to FIG. 6A, when managementdevice 180 determines that the location of customer premises 110 iswithin the particular area represented by cell 610-2, management device180 may also determine that the location of customer premises 110 isalso represented by cell 660-2. Accordingly, management device 180 maydetermine that the predicted future signal quality at the location ofcustomer premises 110 is equal to the value assigned to cell 660-2 inrepresentation 650.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an example process 700 for generatinggeographical files. In one implementation, management device 180 mayperform process 700. Alternatively, process 700 may be performed by oneor more other devices, alone or in combination with management device180.

As shown in FIG. 7, process 700 may include determining locations ofcell units (block 710). For example, management device 180 may determinelatitude and longitude information for cell units (e.g., eNodeBs 160)that are located within a particular area. In one implementation,management device 180 may determine the latitude and longitudeinformation based on a terrain map of the particular area and/or cellsite location data. The cell site location data my include informationabout a carrier network (e.g., EPC network 120), such as the locationsof all cell units (e.g., eNodeBs 160) or all cell units in a particulargeographic region (e.g., including a region where installations ofoutdoor broadband unit 200 may be performed).

Process 700 may further include determining cell units information(block 720) and determining interference information (block 730). Forexample, management device 180 may collect and/or retrieve cell unitsinformation and/or interference information associated with the cellunits (e.g., eNodeBs 160) that are located within the particular area.The cell units information may include, for example, one or more oftypes of antennas used by the cell units, heights of the antennas,transmitter power (e.g., RF signal readings) associated with the cellunits, terrain characteristics associated with locations of the cellunits, traffic loads associated with the cell units, RF parametersassociated with the cell units, and/or any other information thataffects signal levels of the cell units within the particular area. Theinterference information may include, for example, information aboutobstructions in the particular area, information about undesired signalsfrom other cell units, and/or information about any other factors thatnegatively affect the signal quality of the cell units within theparticular area.

In one implementation, management device 180 may determine a portion ofthe cell units information and/or the interference information based onthe terrain map and/or the cell site location data. In anotherimplementation, management device 180 may determine a portion of thecell units information and/or the interference information based oninformation received from the cell units. In yet another implementation,management device 180 may determine a portion of the cell unitsinformation and/or the interference information based on informationreceived/collected from outdoor broadband units 200 that are alreadyinstalled within the particular area.

Process 700 may also include generating a geographic file for currentsignal quality (block 740). For example, management device 180 may usemodel(s) (e.g., propagation models, radio planning models, etc.) todetermine signal quality at geographic points within the particular areabased on the cell units information. Management device 180 may furthercalculate the presence of interference at the geographic points based onthe interference information. Management device 180 may generate, basedon output(s) of the model(s) and the presence of interference, one ormore geographic files for the current signal quality within theparticular area.

Process 700 may also include determining network loading information(block 750) and determining network reconfiguration information (block760). For example, in one implementation, management device 180 mayreceive network loading information and/or network reconfigurationinformation from an operator of the carrier network (e.g., EPC network120) and/or from one or more other sources. The network loadinginformation may include, for example, predictions about growth ofcellular traffic of the carrier network within the particular areaand/or information about other factors that may degrade service.

The network reconfiguration information may include, for example,information about plans to add new cell units within the particulararea. The information about plans to add new cell units may includedates when the new cell units are planned to be added, locations of thenew cell units, expected RF signals of the new cell units, etc. Inanother implementation, management device 180 may receive data (e.g.,expected population growth in the particular area, past history ofadding cell units, etc.) that management device 180 may use tocalculate/forecast the network loading information and/or the networkreconfiguration information.

Process 700 may also include generating a geographic file for predictedfuture signal quality (block 770). For example, management device 180may generate geographic files for predicted future signal quality basedon the geographic files for the current signal quality, the networkloading information, and/or the network reconfiguration information. Inone implementation, management device 180 may adjust the values of thecurrent signal quality, represented in the geographic files for thecurrent signal quality, based on the network loading information and/orthe network reconfiguration information, to generate the geographicfiles for predicted future signal quality. The geographic files forpredicted future signal quality may specify predicted future signalquality at the geographic points at a particular time in the future(e.g., 3 months, 1 year, 5 years, and/or any other period of time from acurrent time).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an example process 800 for qualifying alocation. In one implementation, management device 180 may performprocess 800. Alternatively, process 800 may be performed by one or moreother devices, alone or in combination with management device 180.

As shown in FIG. 8, process 800 may include receiving an address of alocation (block 810) and determining latitude and longitude informationfor the location (block 820). For example, assume that a customer isinterested in installing CPE (e.g., combined gateway 150, includingoutdoor broadband unit 200), in order to receive fixed wirelessservices, at customer premises 110. Further assume that the customer oranother entity (e.g., an employee of a provider of the fixed wirelessservices) enters an address of the location by using computer terminal190. Computer terminal 190 may transmit the address to management device180. Management device 180 may receive the address. Management device180 may use geocoding and/or another process to determine latitude andlongitude information (e.g., geographic coordinates) for the locationbased on the address.

Process 800 may further include determining current signal qualityand/or predicted future signal quality (block 830). For example,management device 180 may retrieve a geographic file for current signalquality and/or a geographic file for predicted future signal qualitythat represent an area that includes the location, as identified by thelatitude and longitude information. Management device 180 may reference,based on the latitude and longitude information, the geographic file forcurrent signal quality to determine the current signal quality at thelocation. Management device 180 may reference, based on the latitude andlongitude information, the geographic file for predicted future signalquality to determine the predicted future signal quality at thelocation.

Process 800 may also include determining premises information (block840). For example, management device 180 may determine premisesinformation, associated with customer premises 110 at the location,based on one or more of the latitude and longitude information, terrainmaps of the area that include the location, cell site location data,information collected from other installed CPEs within a particulardistance/area of the location, information provided by the customer viacomputer terminal 190, etc. The premises information may include, forexample, a type of distance between the location and the nearest cellunit (e.g., eNodeB 160) (e.g., near cell, average/middle distance fromcell, far from cell, etc.); a type of terrain associated with thelocation (e.g., extreme rural, rural, suburban, dense suburban, urban,dense urban, multi-dwelling urban, multi-dwelling dense urban, etc.); aheight of a roof or other intended installation area of customerpremises 110 (e.g., low height, medium height, high height, etc.); etc.

Process 800 may also include adjusting the current signal quality and/orthe predicted future signal quality (block 850). For example, managementdevice 180 may adjust (i.e., increase or decrease) the current signalquality and/or the predicted future signal quality, for the location,based on the premises information. In one example, management device 180may increase the current signal quality and/or the predicted futuresignal quality by a particular value when the premises informationsatisfies particular criteria. The premises information may satisfy theparticular criteria when, for example, the premises informationindicates that the premises is a particular type of distance from thenearest cell unit (e.g., near cell); that a particular type of terrainis associated with the location (e.g., rural); and that the intendedinstallation area, of customer premises 110, is of a particular type ofheight (e.g., high height).

Process 800 may also include determining whether the location qualifiesfor service (block 860). For example, management device 180 maydetermine whether the location qualifies for fixed wireless servicesbased on the current signal quality, the predicted future signalquality, and/or the premises information. In one implementation,management device 180 may determine that the location does not qualifyfor service when the current signal quality (and/or the predicted futuresignal quality) is less than a minimum threshold value. In anotherimplementation, management device 180 may determine that the locationdoes not qualify for fixed wireless services when the premisesinformation indicates, for example, that customer premises 110 is withina zone where fixed wireless services cannot be received regardless ofthe determined/adjusted current signal quality and/or predicted futuresignal quality.

If the location does not qualify for service (block 860—NO), process 800may include transmitting a notification (block 865). For example,management device 180 may generate a notification that specifies thatthe location, with the address provided by the customer, does notqualify for any fixed wireless services. Management device 180 maytransmit the notification to computer terminal 190.

If the location qualifies for service (block 860—YES), process 800 mayinclude selecting a tier of service for the location (block 870). In oneimplementation, management device 180 may select, for the location, oneof a particular quantity of different tiers (e.g., a first tier, asecond tier, and a third tier) based on the current signal qualityand/or the predicted future signal quality. For example, managementdevice 180 may select the first tier when the current signal quality isgreater than a first value and/or the predicted future signal quality isgreater than the first value. Management device 180 may select thesecond tier when the current signal quality is less than the first valueand greater than a second value and/or the predicted future signalquality is greater than the first value and greater than the secondvalue. Management device 180 may select the third tier when the currentsignal quality is less than the second value (and greater than theminimum threshold value).

In another implementation, management device 180 may further use thepremises information to select one of the tiers of service. For example,assume that management device 180 selects the first tier based on thecurrent signal quality and/or the predicted future signal quality.Management device 180 may change the selection to the second tier when,for example, the premises information indicates that customer premises110 is a particular type of distance from the nearest cell unit (e.g.,far from cell) and/or that the installation area, of customer premises110, is of a particular type of height (e.g., low height). In yetanother implementation, selecting the tier of service for the locationmay include determining that the location does not qualify for any fixedwireless service.

Process 800 may also include transmitting information associated withthe tier of service (block 880). For example, management device 180 maystore and/or have access to information associated with each tier ofservice. The information associated with the first tier of service mayinclude, for example, a first set of fixed wireless services that areavailable at the location, a first set of packages of fixed wirelessservices that are available at the location, prices associated with thefirst set of fixed wireless services and/or the first set of packages,etc. The information associated with the second tier of service mayinclude, for example, a second set of fixed wireless services availableat the location, a second set of packages of fixed wireless servicesavailable at the location, prices associated with the second set offixed wireless services and/or the second set of packages, etc.

The first set of fixed wireless services, the first set of packages offixed wireless services, the second set of fixed wireless services,and/or the second set of packages of fixed wireless services may includefixed wireless services of the same type and/or of different types. Theprices associated with the same type of fixed wireless services may varybased on the tier of service. For example, a price associated with aparticular type of service in the first set of fixed wireless servicesmay be greater than a price associated with the particular type ofservice in the second set of fixed wireless services.

The information associated with the third tier of service may specify,for example, that a technician needs to travel to/visit the location todetermine an actual current signal quality and/or the predicted futuresignal quality at the location before determining which types of fixedwireless services (if any) are available at the location and qualify forany fixed wireless services. Management device 180 may transmit theinformation associated with the selected tier of service (e.g., secondtier) to computer terminal 190. In another implementation, theinformation associated with the selected tier of service may alsoinclude a particular speed/data rate that the user can expect currentlyand at future point(s) in time.

Thereafter, the customer may select one or more fixed wireless servicesfor customer premises 110. A technician of the provider of the fixedwireless services may install a CPE (e.g., including outdoor broadbandunit 200) at the location for customer premises 110 to receive theselected fixed wireless services.

When, or after, the CPE is installed, management device 180 may receiveinformation about actual signal quality (e.g., RF signal readings)and/or other premises information associated with customer premises 110(and/or the location). Management device 180 may receive the informationabout actual signal quality and/or the other premises information from adevice (e.g., installation assistant 300 of FIG. 300) used, by thetechnician, to install the CPE and/or from the CPE. Management device180 may update, based on the actual signal quality and/or the otherpremises information, the model(s) used to generate geographic file(s).Management device 180 may further update how current signal qualityand/or predicted future signal quality are determined, calculated,and/or adjusted based on the actual signal quality and/or the otherpremises information. For example, management device 160 may adjust thevalue by which the current signal quality is increased when theparticular criteria are satisfied based on particular premisesinformation.

The foregoing description of implementations provides illustration anddescription, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit thepossible implementations to the precise form disclosed. Modificationsand variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may beacquired from practice of the invention.

For example, while series of blocks have been described with regard toFIGS. 7 and 8, the order of the blocks may be modified in otherimplementations. Further, non-dependent blocks may be performed inparallel.

It will be apparent that example aspects, as described above, may beimplemented in many different forms of software, firmware, and hardwarein the implementations illustrated in the figures. The actual softwarecode or specialized control hardware used to implement these aspectsshould not be construed as limiting. Thus, the operation and behavior ofthe aspects were described without reference to the specific softwarecode—it being understood that software and control hardware could bedesigned to implement the aspects based on the description herein.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in theclaims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are notintended to limit the disclosure of the implementations. In fact, manyof these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited inthe claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although eachdependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one otherclaim, the disclosure of the implementations includes each dependentclaim in combination with every other claim in the claim set.

No element, act, or instruction used in the present application shouldbe construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitlydescribed as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended toinclude one or more items. Where only one item is intended, the term“one” or similar language is used. Further, the phrase “based on” isintended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly statedotherwise.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: determining, by a device, asignal quality at a location, wherein determining the signal quality atthe location includes determining a highest available radio frequency(RF) signal strength at the location; determining, by the device andbased on the signal quality, whether the location qualifies to receive afixed wireless broadband service via installation of an outdoorbroadband unit; transmitting, by the device, a notification thatindicates that the location does not qualify to receive the fixedwireless broadband service when the location does not qualify to receivethe fixed wireless broadband service; and when the location qualifies toreceive the fixed wireless broadband service: selecting a tier ofservice for the location based on the signal quality; and transmitting,by the device, information associated with the tier of service.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, where determining the signal quality at the locationcomprises: receiving an address of the location from a device associatedwith a customer or at a point of sale of a provider of the fixedwireless broadband service, determining latitude and longitudeinformation for the location based on the address, and determining thesignal quality based on the latitude and longitude information and afile that specifies signal quality at different geographic points. 3.The method of claim 1, where the signal quality comprises a currentsignal quality at the location, and where the method further comprises:determining a predicted future signal quality at the location, wheredetermining whether the location qualifies to receive the fixed wirelessbroadband service is further based on the predicted future signalquality.
 4. The method of claim 1, where the information associated withthe tier of service comprises one or more of: types of fixed wirelessbroadband services that are available at the location, packages of fixedwireless broadband services that are available at the location, orprices associated with the types of fixed wireless broadband services orthe packages of fixed wireless broadband services.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, where determining whether the location qualifies to receive thefixed wireless broadband service comprises: determining premisesinformation associated with a premises at the location, and determiningwhether the location qualifies to receive the fixed wireless broadbandservice based on the premises information.
 6. The method of claim 5,where the premises information comprises one or more of: a type ofdistance between the location and a nearest cell unit, a type of terrainassociated with the location, or a height of an installation area of thepremises to be used for equipment for the fixed wireless broadbandservice.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving RFinformation associated with cell units within an area that includes thelocation, where the RF information comprises one or more of: asignal-to-noise ratio (SNR), a received signal strength indication(RSSI), a reference signal received power (RSRP), a reference signalreceived quality (RSRQ), or path loss; and generating, based on the RFinformation associated with the cell units, a file that specifies signalquality at different points within the area, where determining thesignal quality at the location comprises: referencing the file todetermine the signal quality at the location.
 8. The method of claim 7,further comprising: receiving interference information associated withthe area, where the interference information comprises one or more of:information about obstructions in the area, or information aboutundesired signals from other cell units, and where generating the fileis further based on the interference information.
 9. One or morenon-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions executableby one or more processors of a computing device to perform a method, themethod comprising: receiving an address from a device; determining alocation associated with the address; determining a current signalquality at the location by referencing a file that represents an areathat includes the location, wherein determining the current signalquality at the location includes determining a highest available radiofrequency (RF) signal strength at the location; determining whether thelocation qualifies to receive a fixed wireless service, via installationof an outdoor broadband unit, based on the current signal quality; andwhen the location qualifies to receive the fixed wireless service:selecting a tier of service for the location based on the signalquality; and transmitting information associated with the tier ofservice to the device.
 10. The media of claim 9, where the locationqualifies to receive the fixed wireless service when the current signalquality is greater than a threshold.
 11. The media of claim 9, where themethod further comprises: receiving information associated with cellunits within the area; and generating the file based on the informationassociated with the cell units.
 12. The media of claim 11, where theinformation associated with the cell units comprises one or more of: oneor more types of antennas used by the cell units, heights of theantennas, transmitter power associated with the cell units, terraincharacteristics associated with locations of the cell units, trafficloads associated with the cell units, or RF parameters associated withthe cell units, and where the RF parameters comprise one or more of: asignal-to-noise ratio (SNR), a received signal strength indication(RSSI), a reference signal received power (RSRP), a reference signalreceived quality (RSRQ), or path loss.
 13. The media of claim 9, wherethe method further comprises: determining a predicted future signalquality at the location by referencing a different file that representsthe area, and where determining whether the location qualifies toreceive the fixed wireless service is further based on the predictedfuture signal quality.
 14. A system comprising: a processor configuredto: determine a signal quality at a location, wherein, when determiningthe signal quality at the location, the processor is further configuredto determine a highest available radio frequency (RF) signal strength atthe location; determine, based on the signal quality, whether thelocation qualifies to receive a fixed wireless service via installationof an outdoor broadband unit; transmit a notification that indicatesthat the location does not qualify for the fixed wireless service whenthe location does not qualify to receive the fixed wireless service; andwhen the location qualifies to receive the fixed wireless service:select a tier of service for the location based on the signal quality;and transmit information associated with the tier of service.
 15. Thesystem of claim 14, wherein, when determining the signal quality at thelocation, the processor is further configured to: receive an address ofthe location from a device associated with a customer or at a point ofsale of a provider of the fixed wireless service, determine latitude andlongitude information for the location based on the address, anddetermine the signal quality based on the latitude and longitudeinformation and a file that specifies signal quality at differentgeographic points.
 16. The system of claim 14, wherein the signalquality comprises a current signal quality at the location, and whereinthe processor is further configured to: determine a predicted futuresignal quality at the location, wherein, when determining whether thelocation qualifies to receive the fixed wireless service, the processoris further configured to determine whether the location qualifies toreceive the fixed wireless service based on the predicted future signalquality.
 17. The system of claim 14, wherein the information associatedwith the tier of service comprises one or more of: types of fixedwireless services that are available at the location, packages of fixedwireless services that are available at the location, or pricesassociated with the types of fixed wireless services or the packages offixed wireless services.
 18. The system of claim 14, wherein, whendetermining whether the location qualifies to receive the fixed wirelessservice, the processor is further configured to: determine premisesinformation associated with a premises at the location, and determinewhether the location qualifies to receive the fixed wireless servicefurther based on the premises information.